Developed by Agent Brent Jackson, Project: Contingency; was a S.H.I.E.L.D. black ops squad trained to assassinate known mutant adventurers should they turn on the public, possibly a revamp of the similar Harriers program of years before. Several mercenaries were given physical training and armed with advanced weaponry, much of it designed to counter specific mutant powers, such as Wolverine's healing factor. All were armed With energy-projecting rifles, and the field leader, the telepathic Rapture, wore a "neuro-net exoskeleton" designed enhance her strength, cloak her from detection, and enable her to assume mist form. Kite carried motor disruptors, and Killdeer a pair of energy batons. Condor and Shrike's specialties remain unrevealed.

When Jackson, with whom Rapture was apparently romantically involved, was transferred to Weapon X (US version), Project: Contingency was turned over to Sharon Carter, who, unlike the mutaphobic Jackson, was troubled by the project's goal, although admitting its fears were not unfounded. Regarding Jackson's move as a "betrayal" and realizing Carter's reluctance could hinder them in carrying out assassinations, all five members of the Contingency went rogue, stealing a hovercraft and starting new careers as outright criminals. Tracked down by S.H.I.E.L.D., Rapture disabled several agents before the battle was interrupted by Jackson and the cyborg Garrison Kane, who defeated the remaining agents. Seeking Rapture and her teammates for Weapon X's ranks, Jackson, not realizing the extent to which Rapture now hated him, anticipated ready acquiescence and was stunned by her refusal. Claiming the Contingency had a "huge" operation in the works, Rapture departed but was pursued by Kane, who, was eager for action as the Contingency itself, moved to kill her despite Jackson's orders to the contrary. Instead, Rapture collapsed an abandoned S.H.I.E.L.D. safe house onto Kane and escaped as mist. Nothing more is known of the plan about which Rapture boasted, not even if it has been carried out or delayed.

Eventually the Contingency intercepted a S.H.I.E.L.D. communique from the X-Men, revealing that a processor chip from the X-Men's alien Shi'ar technology had somehow "mutated" to absorb and discharge massive amounts of energy projected from the distant Shi'ar Galaxy. Recognizing the value of such a weapon, the Contingency stole the chip and Wolverine was sent to track them while his teammate Forge contacted the Avengers for help. Rapture shot Wolverine down with magnetic bullets designed to attach to his Adamantium skeleton and halt his healing process. In the course of the fight, Wolverine slashed Rapture's exoskeleton, inexplicably bonding its circuitry to her nervous system, charging her system but inducing extreme pain.

Captain America and Warbird arrived and accompanied the still-determined Wolverine in a rematch, but the Contingency nonetheless escaped. While Warbird rushed Wolverine to treatment, Cap tracked the Contingency into New York City and nearly defeated them before Rapture took an infant hostage to assure their getaway. The Contingency next met with the techno-terrorists of A.I.M., ostensibly to sell them the chip, but quickly double-crossed their buyers, who had expected nothing less. The standoff was interrupted by the arrival of Cap, Warbird and the recovered Wolverine; taken by surprise, the A.I.M. members and most of the Contingency were soon defeated, but Rapture, despite failing to control Wolverine telepathically in a final standoff, escaped. Condor, Killdeer, Kite and Shrike were taken into SHIELD custody, but Rapture remains at large, intending to free her teammates once she has mastered her new condition.